John S. Kanzius (March 1, 1944 – February 18, 2009) was an American inventor, radio and TV engineer, one-time station owner and ham radio operator (Call Sign K3TUP) from Erie, Pennsylvania. He invented a method that, he said, could treat virtually all forms of cancer,[1] with no side effects, and without the need for surgery or medication.[1][2][3][needs update] He also demonstrated a device that generated flammable hydrogen-containing gas from salt-water-solution by the use of radiowaves. In the media this was dubbed "burning salt water". Both effects involve the use of his radio frequencytransmitter.

The specific absorption rate for radio waves by living tissue in the proposed wavelengths and intensity levels is very low. Metals absorb this energy much more efficiently than tissue through dielectric heating; Richard Smalley has suggested that carbon nanotubes could be used to similar purpose.[8] If nanoparticles were to be preferentially bound to cancer sites, cancer cells could be destroyed or induced into apoptosis while leaving healthy tissue relatively unharmed.[9] This preferential targeting represents a major technical challenge. According to a presentation by Dr. Steven Curley, essentially all forms of cancer are potentially treatable using Kanzius RF therapy.[10]

Later in 2007, Kanzius claimed that the same radio frequencytransmitter can also be used to generate a hydrogen-oxygen mixture dissociated from salt water.[14][16] The discovery was made accidentally while he was researching the use of radio waves for desalination. Kanzius said that "In this case we weren't looking for energy, we were looking for something that might do desalination. The more we tried desalination, the more heat we produced, until we got fire".[16]

According to Rustum Roy, a materials scientist at Pennsylvania State University, "The salt water isn't burning per se, despite appearances. The radio frequencies act to weaken the bonds between the elements that make up salt water, releasing the hydrogen. Once ignited, the hydrogen will burn as long as it is exposed to the frequencies".[17] The temperature and flame color varies with water solutions and concentrations.[17]

Kanzius' invention has been publicised on multiple local TV stations as a source of cheap energy. In a column in the journal Nature, Philip Ball pointed out that since water is created by burning hydrogen, it can not be used as a fuel by generating hydrogen from water and then burning it. Such process requires providing an equal or greater amount of energy than is outputted. This observation is one of the foundation principles of the laws of thermodynamics.[18] Kanzius acknowledged that this process could not be considered an energy source, as more energy is used to produce the RF signal than can be obtained from the burning gas and stated in July 2007 that he never claimed his discovery would replace oil, asserting only that his discovery was "thought provoking".[19]

^David Templeton (2007-05-02). "Cancer research inspires Erie community". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2007-09-17. Dr. Curley has submitted two research manuscripts for publication and was unable to provide the latest results. But he said he is testing the treatment of human cancer strains in animals. (...) "This is the most exciting new therapy for cancer that I have seen in over 20 years of cancer research," he said.

^ abO'Mara, Michael (September 12, 2007). Burning Water. Erie, P.A.: WKYC. Retrieved 2007-09-14.Note: This broadcast video, although aired in September 2007, contains archive footage of John Kanzius from May 2007. For more information, please see the discussion on this issue.